Educational Cruise Activities for Kids

For the sake of their children, lots of parents like to include a little education in their summer vacations. But, while tours of museums, libraries and other cultural institutions can be fascinating and fun, some kids don’t have a high level of tolerance for them. Instead, they long to be doing something active, playing with other kids – or even dissecting a squid.

Cruising meets kids’ desire to be active and to socialize, and many cruise lines and ships offer programming and facilities designed especially for kids. The programs usually divide children into several groups to ensure age-appropriate activities, which might range from finger painting to deck parties to teen-only ship tours. And, while youth programs help assure that kids have fun and meet new friends while on board, they often have an educational component, too.

For example, Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean program includes hands-on experiments that are so much fun, the kids may not even realize they are "doing science.” With the help of the Adventure Ocean staff, kids can learn more about fossils, volcanoes, how ocean waves are formed, and more.

Through Princess Cruises’ partnership with the California Science Center, the cruise line’s youth program staff is trained to lead exciting, interactive science activities such as whale watching, squid dissection and rollercoaster construction. The Pete’s Pals program teaches kids about threatened and endangered species in the regions where Princess ships sail. And, on cruises to Alaska, National Park Service rangers give kids insights into glaciers and animals that live in the region.

Kids can learn basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety, and how to follow a recipe in Holland America Line’s spectacular Culinary Arts Center demonstration kitchens. There are both demonstration-style and hands-on classes for youth, and questions are always encouraged.

To explore more options – including shore excursions – for sprinkling a bit of education into the mix on your summer cruise vacation, talk with your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert.